I had a sudden failure two days ago with my belt drive system. This on my 1994 F250 4WD long-box, super-cab with a IDI 7.3 turbo diesel, VIN K. Pulled up to a red light an all-of-a-sudden had a horrible metallic disaster sound under the hood. Then pretty much lost my brakes, steering etc. Found the belt tensioner broken right off. Not the pulley, the tensioner itself. Belt was wrapped around many things. I cut it off and drove about three miles to a garage I have use of. Had to stop four times along the way to let the engine cool down (no water pump working). Engine has almost 300K mile on it and I have no idea if the tensioner is original. To my surprise - I tried every auto parts store within 75 miles and NONE stock the tensioner or even a belt. Not Autozone, Advance,Carquest, NAPA or even Ford.

So I had to order the parts and fix the next day. Then - a new problem The new belt is too small. I could squeeze it on by taking off the alternator then prying it back on. But I worried running that way might break the new tensioner I just installed. So I pulled out some of my old master parts books I had left over from a NAPA dealership. Ends up the belt that Advance, Carquest, and Autozone sells is wrong. So is the one from the Ford dealer. All sell only a belt that is 111 5/8" long and 13/16" wide. The Ford dealer told me they used to sell a longer belt but Ford now subs it to the smaller one. Ends up only NAPA had the correct belt (not in stock, of course). I never dreamed getting a belt would turn into such a project. If anyone else has run into this - Carquest, Advance, and Autozone only list the 5061115 belt that is 111 5/8". Ford sells the F4TZ-8620-T that is also 111 5/8". NAPA sells a Gates 25-061120 that is 112 1/2" and is the one that fits.

I now have a new extra belt and tensioner on board. I had no idea parts like this were not stocked anywhere. At least not around here in northern Michigan.

 

Here's the tensioner that broke off.

 

well the good part is,your probably good for another 100k issue free miles.
i lost my belt recently too.i had replaced the belt and tentioner but not the idler pulley.that let go on me.luckily i had another truck to borrow it from.

 

Found mine on my 95 is getting ready to turn loose. It is now rubbing on the mount bolt they were so kind to make a torx bolt. Anyone know for sure what size the torx is? Any tips for removing it? A 1/4" allen wrench feels sloppy so after a short try with it I gave that up rather then to strip it out.

 

Is it a '94 or a '95 (or a '94.5)?

DO NOT try an allen wrench in a torx bolt, unless you want to have a very bad day. IIRC, it's T50.

Wait - are you replacing the tensioner, or the belt? To replace the belt, you don't loosen the tensioner mount bolt. You wind up the tensioner by putting a wrench on the pulley bolt. The bolt doesn't turn, of course; you're only using the bolt as a place to put a wrench arm for leverage. The tensioner arm then pivots around the mount bolt, but the mount bolt remains torqued to the bracket.

Edit - just realized you hijacked a >1-year-old thread (thus the confusion wrt. model year). This is why it's a bad idea to hijack threads, esp. when the base data does not match.

 

Tensioner is letting it go sideways a bit so pulley is eating into the mount bolt. I quit with the allen wrench before it slipped. I have a socket on order for my 1/2" drive that goes to size 50 and a tensioner on order. Manufacture date is 8/94 iot is a 7.3 turbo 4X4

 

the 8th digit in your vin will help.there were two,completely different 7.3l, turbo diesel engine options in '94.

 

Also the 10th digit.

 

I have dealt with a friends 94 IDI (NOT POWERSTROKE) and I find its much easier just to ask for parts for a 93 first. If you indeed have an idi engine like this one I''m speaking of, I find it helps the novice parts counter guys get you the right part easier.

 

it is titled a 95 but here is the number 2FTHF26F3SCA01907 I bought it in Illinois.

 

8th digit being F means you have a 7.3 PowerStroke, not an IDI.

 

That is good to know for future reference. Got my tools in yesterday and got the tensioner out. Had to remove the idler below to have enough clearance to remove it. Bot required the T 50 bit. The idler bolt was wallowed out some and if had a replacement it would be retired.The shoulder on that bolt the bearing rides on is very short so it must be tight or it is sure to cause grief. The tensioner pivot wasn't as bad as the OP but was leaning to one side bad. My replacement is still in transit.

 

Hi jdemaris,
I've recently purchased a 1994 F250 with 7.3l IDI turbodiesel - sounds like the same engine as you refer to in your post.
I've had the truck at my local mechanic's garage for routine maintenance, preparing to store the unit and slide-in camper for the winter.
He recommends changing the serpentine belt and belt tensioner, as the tensioner has pretty much seized.
In your post, you provide a good part no. for the belt (Gates), thank you! My current problem is that my mechanic has not been able to find a replacement tensioner. Would you by chance have a part no. for the one that you found?
Thanks!

 

Found the replacement through rock auto. Couldn't tell you the part number anymore though. I just looked it up on their website by year model and engine size.

 

Trapperpete52,
Thanks for your post.
I'm now struggling to find the correct part no. for my tensioner. I checked my truck at the mechanic's garage today; my tensioner has a damper. 1994 F250, IDI 7.3 turbo diesel. I see people selling tensioners with and without the damper for this engine.....
I'm new to the Forum. Perhaps I should start a new thread??